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Eighteen teams from 17 high schools converged onto fields at the Ocala Regional Sportsplex for the second Summer Showdown 7-on-7 football tournament.

In the end, it was a last-minute entry from Broward County that won it all when Hollywood Hills beat Tampa Blake, 27-12.

County high schools Forest, Lake Weir and Belleview played with varsity squads, while North Marion, Vanguard and another Forest team played with junior varsity kids.

The event, which grew from 16 teams from 13 schools a year ago, was a success. Just ask Hollywood Hills coach Al Lang, who reached out to organizers John Ivory and Steve Rhem for a spot in the tournament Thursday because of problems getting into another 7-on-7 event in Tampa.

“We're coming back next year,” the coach of the Class 7A school said. “I loved it. ... We were at Strike 7-on-7 a few weeks ago in Coral Springs. This is by far better than Strike.

“This is organized. This is class — just a lot better.”

Ivory, Rhem, the city of Ocala, sponsor Neo Athletics and other volunteers helped organize all of the day's moving parts, keeping games across six fields on schedule throughout.

“Me and Steve Rhem worked really hard on this to make sure the teams were coming first of all, and to make sure we had a schedule organized throughout the day,” said Ivory, an assistant coach at Belleview. “It was just a very well-organized tournament because of all the work everybody put into it.”

Multiple recruiting services were on hand, which attracted even more schools this year, Ivory said. Also new this year was a lineman challenge, which got the often-overlooked boys up front exposure as well. There were 33 linemen competing in different challenges, including an obstacle course, powerball toss, tire flip, 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 pass protection drills.

“We definitely attracted more talent this year,” Ivory said. “...Every year, as this tournament gets better, we're learning a lot more about how to get this thing better. At the end of the day, I want this to be an event that the people of Ocala can really all come and gather around to support it.”

To that end, Ivory said the city stepped up this year after seeing the potential from last year's inaugural tournament.

“This year, the city really noticed how big of an event this can be for them, and they've made the commitment that this is going to be something they're going to be head and shoulders involved with every year going forward,” Ivory said.

On the field, teams began with four games of pool play across five pools. The three local JV teams played in the fifth pool with only the winner — North Marion — advancing to the single-elimination tournament.

Forest's varsity squad went winless in pool play but won its first playoff game against Santaluces from Palm Beach County before bowing out against Montverde Academy in the Sweet 16. James Varney, Xavier Williams, OJ Tucker, Micah Pye, Connor Feagle and Jaylon Gadson stood out for the Wildcats.

Lake Weir went 3-1 to finish second in its pool to earn a first-round bye into the tournament. Then the Hurricanes were beaten by Fort Myers Bishop Verot, 30-27, in the Sweet 16 behind solid efforts from Josue St. Fleur and Antwan Downs.

Belleview went 1-3 in pool play before losing to Bishop Verot in the first round. Erik Pitts and Kenneth Franklin played well for the Rattlers.

The North Marion JV squad went 4-0 in preliminary play to earn a first-round bye and took eventual champ Hollywood Hills down to the wire in the Sweet 16, losing by six. With the game tied on the last play, Hollywood Hills won it, 19-13, on a 40-yard bomb. Coach Darrell Collins said Rashard Tuggerson, Hunter Norton, Jarad Alexander and Shannon Montgomery led the way.

“I'm ecstatic to see the turnout in Marion County,” said Collins, a varsity assistant for Colts head coach Stephen Field. “I always say, Marion County has so much talent, and we just want to get it out. Steve Rhem and coach Ivory did a great job of putting this on. We came last year and it was good, but it's getting better and better.”

Springstead, Eastside, Melbourne Central Catholic, Union County, University Christian, Trenton, FAMU also took part in the tournament.

Summer Showdown All-Tournament

Defense

Hamp Cheevers, Trenton

Juwan Burgess, Tampa Blake

Peterson St. Louis, Santaluces

Max Unger, Melbourne Central Catholic

Lorenzo Thomas, Eastside

Armunz Mathews, FAMU

Ronald Clayton, Hollywood Hills

Offense

Xavier Williams, Forest

Josue St. Fleur, Lake Weir

Kenneth Franklin, Belleview

Jay Irvin, University Christian

Brandon Ziarno, Melbourne Central Catholic

William Scott, Bishop Verot

Kade Rogers, Trenton

Championship game MVPs

Defense: Jacarier Salter, Hollywood Hills

Offense: Winston Job, Hollywood Hills

Lineman Challenge top performers

Davon'te Jest, Forest

Donald Carruthers, West Port

Daniel Engelgau, West Port

Nevin Brown, Santaluces

Josh Mathis, Trenton

Javier Escotr, Santaluces

Dusan Etienne, Hollywood Hills

Carlos Espino, Santaluces

Josh Dejadin, Santaluces

Dave Biles, Eastside

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